9 Times The Stars Of 'OITNB' Were Badass Feminists Off-Screen
The third season of “Orange Is The New Black” comes out on June 12, and we could not be more excited to spend a full weekend binge-watching it.

The Netflix drama, which follows the inmates of the fictional Litchfield Penitentiary, features an incredibly diverse set of characters and brings complex women’s stories to our screens. What makes it even better is that the actresses and actors on “OITNB” are just as dedicated to raising awareness for important issues off-screen.

The “OITNB” cast have spoken out about the importance of seeing different body types on screen, called for more mainstream television characters who aren’t young and white, supported the LGBT community and pushed for criminal justice reform. Laverne Cox, who plays trans inmate Sophia Burset, even landed on the cover of Time under the powerful headline “The Transgender Tipping Point.”

These women (and a few good men) have used their rising stardom to advocate for equality, independence, and inclusion.

Here are 9 times “OITNB” cast members were badass feminists:

1. When Samira Wiley told The Guardian about her dedication to representing all women on-screen:

2. When Matt McGorry’s feminist Facebook post made us swoon:

3. When Dascha Polanco told VH1 about learning to love her body in spite of restrictive beauty standards:

4. When Danielle Brooks wrote a kickass, body-positive essay for Glamour:

5. When Lea DeLaria talked about why “OITNB” is important to viewers on AfterEllen.com:

6. When Selenis Leyva wrote an incredible blog post calling for more awareness about the barriers transgender people face:

7. When Uzo Aduba told NPR about owning her “unusual name” and challenging whitewashing:

8. When Laverne Cox spoke to DAME about what feminism means to her:

9. When Lorraine Toussaint told IndieWire about the importance of helping non-white, not-so-young actresses smash the glass ceiling:

We can’t wait to hear what else this amazing cast has to say. Slay, queens.

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Christian Couple Threatens To Get Divorced If Gay Marriage Is Made Legal

A Christian couple in Australia are threatening to get a divorce. And it’s all gay people’s fault.

Nick Jensen and his wife Sarah (pictured) have been blissfully married for the past 10 years.

“We were married at 21 after being high-school sweethearts for several years before that,” Jensen recently writes in a new op-ed published by the Canberra CityNews. “In fact, my wife is the only woman I have ever loved, the mother of our children, my perfect match.”

“But later this year,” he continues, “we may be getting a divorce.”

Related: AussieBum Drops Trou For Australian Marriage Equality

Jensen insists the reason for their divorce “has nothing to do with the state of our marriage.”

So what’s the problem then?

“As Christians, we believe marriage is not a human invention,” Jensen explains. “Our view is that marriage is a fundamental order of creation. Part of God’s intimate story for human history … My wife and I, as a matter of conscience, refuse to recognize the government’s regulation of marriage if its definition includes the solemnization of same sex couples.”

And this, Jensen says, is why they may be forced to legally dissolve their union.

Related: Christian Group Kicks Off All-You-Can-Eat Fast To Oppose Marriage Equality

“By changing the definition of marriage, ‘marriage’ will, in years to come, have an altogether different sense and purpose,” he claims. “We no longer wish to be associated with this new definition.”

Did you hear that, gay people of Australia? Your marriages will compel Nick and Sarah Jensen to end their own.

“This has been a big decision for my wife and I,” Jensen writes. “Some will accuse of us being bigoted or too hateful to share. But this couldn’t be further from our intentions. The truth is, ‘marriage’ is simply too important.”

“Here we stand,” Jensen concludes, “we can do no other, and I know we are not alone.”

Except, it seems, they are alone. The op-ed was not well-received by readers.

“I cannot believe that such ugly and selfish individuals exist in our society,” one person wrote.

“This is seriously the dumbest thing I’ve read in quite some time,” another person commented. “Or possibly the funniest. I really hope this was a satirical piece of writing.”

“Divorce then,” someone else said. “Talk about ignorant white trash attempting to guilt others.”

But our favorite comment is probably this one: “Well, you are brave to write an article and publish something like this…. This still doesn’t change the fact that you are deluded bigots.”

Related: 10 Bible-Based Reasons Why Christians Should Love Homosexuality

h/t: Gay Star News

Graham Gremore

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Straight Couple Vows to Divorce in Protest if Australia Wins Marriage Equality

‘Marriage is not a human invention,’ explained Nick Jensen, who said he would be ‘forced’ to divorce by marriage equality.

read more

Mitch Kellaway

www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2015/06/10/straight-couple-vows-divorce-protest-if-australia-wins-marriag

The Chemistry Of Gender Transition
What exactly happens when someone undergoes hormone replacement therapy, especially as part of a gender transition?

Transitioning is in the spotlight because of the dramatic story of Caitlyn Jenner, who has publicly discussed her transition. And now, a new video from the American Chemical Society (above) explains the chemistry behind transitioning.

“This essentially puts a patient through a second puberty,” Elaine Seward, the video’s writer and producer, says. “While the new hormones can’t totally reverse the effects of the first puberty, it’s the development of the secondary sex characteristics, which makes a person begin to physically appear as the gender they identify with.”

To learn more about how hormone therapy works and what it does to the body, check out the video.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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Take The Queerty Survey: How Do You Really Feel About The Arrival Of The Freedom To Marry?

The freedom to marry has been a long time coming. Although there have been various socially accepted forms of same-sex cohabitation since, well, Adam & Steve met up, marriage equality was nothing more than a gleam in the eyes of advocates until the 1980s. That’s when Mary Bonauto, Evan Wolfson of Freedom To Marry, thousands of same-sex couples, and legions of others worked tirelessly together to put it on the national agenda.

Now we are on a roll, with a staggering 60 percent of Americans behind our cause and — we hope and expect — the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court.

So Queerty wants to know what you — the people who made this happen — really think about same sex marriage. We’ll let you know the results before the Supreme Court rules on the question near the end of June.

Take The Queerty Survey Now…

Create your own user feedback survey

Chris Bull

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Op-ed: Growing Up Gay in the South Doesn't Have to Be Horrible

Hailing from South Carolina, GLAAD executive Zeke Stokes couldn’t reconcile his childhood dreams of country music stardom with the fact that he was gay.

read more

Zeke Stokes

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/06/10/op-ed-growing-gay-south-doesnt-have-be-horrible

Slovenia looks for a brighter future partying under a pink castle

Pink Week knocks it out the park once again – amid resistance over gay marriage in a Central European country of immaculate beauty

read more

jamiet

www.gaystarnews.com/article/slovenia-looks-brighter-future-partying-under-pink-castle090615

13 LGBT Soap Characters That Broke New Ground

Adam Sandel

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2015/06/10/13-lgbt-soap-characters-broke-new-ground

Anti-LGBT Violence Down, Anti-Trans Hate Crimes Up

While overall violence against LGBT people is down, trans women and LGBT people of color are more and more likely to be attacked, even killed.

read more

Dawn Ennis

www.advocate.com/crime/2015/06/09/anti-lgbt-violence-down-anti-trans-hate-crimes

Is The Pro-Marriage Ruling In Arkansas The Last A State Court Will Ever Have To Make?

It’s pretty familiar by now: A judge rules that a state cannot arbitrarily refuse to recognize same-sex married couples and delivers a stinging rebuke in the process. Today’s case comes in Arkansas. In addition to being the latest favorable ruling for gay couples, it may be the last if the Supreme Court finally recognizes marriage equality as a constitutional right.

At issue was the status of those couples married during a brief window last May. The state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the couples, but left in place a law that prohibiting clerks from issuing marriage licenses. The couples were in limbo, since the state refused to acknowledge that they were legally hitched.

That did not sit well with Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen. In his ruling, he took the state and its chief representative in the case to task for homophobia.

“With shameless disrespect for fundamental fairness and equality, (Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration Director Larry Walther) insists on treating the marriages of same-sex couples who received marriage licenses between May 9 and May 15 as ‘void from inception as a matter of law,’” Griffen wrote.

All of which is good news for the 450 or so couples who were able to marry last year. But the Arkansas ruling may soon be a footnote in history as the last legal decision regarding marriage equality. If the Supreme Court opts for the right side of history, couples would have to be recognized no matter where they were married. Even if the Court somehow decides to punt on full national marriage equality, it will still have to settle the question of recognizing marriages performed in other states.

In the meantime, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, is mulling over an appeal. But even he sounds like he’s throwing in the towel. “I am evaluating the ruling and will determine the best path forward to protect the state’s interest,” he said.

In other words, why bother?

JohnGallagher

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